Is this laminate likely to be gassing of formaldehyde or toxic chemicals?

Hi

I am very sensitive to dust and chemicals so much that I cannot tolerate old carpets, new carpets, new laminates, new vinyl etc. Basically it seems anything that smells, I cannot tolerate.

Now I bought some used laminate(about 5 years old) which I believe will be fine for me as it has no smell and dust can be seen and cleaned. However I have just realised that when you join the laminates they do not click so that only the plastic laminate can be seen. Its been designed in such a way that about 1mm of the wood on which the laminate is placed remains visible. Therefore I have 1mm of the underlying wood(which the laminate plastic sits on top of) is visible. I'm not sure what this is but it could be mdf which gasses of formaldehyde and maybe a problem for me. I cant smell anything but perhaps that's because of all the wood dust which needs cleaning.

Any idea what material the laminate plastic(sticker if you like) is sitting on? Is it mdf? If it is mdf would all the formaldehyde have gone by now( 5 years) or not?

PLease let me have your thoughts would hate to lay it only to pick it up again.

Thanks

 

It was used in another person home. It didn't swell, that is the way it is designed. Basically say the laminate sticker is 30cm by 90cm. Throughout the sides of the every planks, there is 1mm of the underlaying wood. It joins that way with other pieces and this wood stays visible. Is it mdf? Would it have gassed off or not?

Thanks

 

Yes, that's right, the edges are bevelled and so the laminate plastic sticker doesn't extend to them. Therefore I am worred what material these bevelled edges are and if they are off gassing anything.

They must be whatever material the laminate sticker is sitting on? Is it mdf and is it likely to be offgasing? Many thanks

 

Hi

I am not worried about temporary off gassing e.g. when cutting I am worried about continual gassing after the floor has been complete. With regards to the cut edges, those will eventually be covered by beading and the toxins should not come out I hope so hopefully it won't be a problem.

WHat I am worried about is after the floor and beading has been laid, the bevelled edges will be all over the place and any gassing will go directly into the air. My question is are the bevelled edges mdf and would the off gas formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals? Or will 5 years have been enough for them to go?

Thanks

 

Normally the bevelled edges would be protected the same as the top. They may be a different colour but will still be finished.

If they weren't, the flooring would absorb moisture and swell badly causing a failure.

 

hi what do you mean by this? When I look at the laminate the plastic laminate sticker covers most of it. There is no plastic laminaten sticker on the bevelled edges. Even if they put something on it for protection, if it was mdf, wouldn't it still be gassing of formaldehyde or something else?

What materials is it, would the coating the applied prevent off gasing etc? Please can somebody explained im just sitting here wondering if I should put the floor down or not.

Thanks

 

The bevelled edges do not have the plastic laminate sticker(protection) that is present on the surface of the lamimate board. I don't see anything but it does seem to be harder then the middle wood. Even if varnishes were applied won't it still gas off formaldehyde or something else through the varnish?

Is it mdf or something else, is it off gassing?

 

They're HDF I believe, and the bevelled edges will definitely be protected, otherwise it wouldn't be fit for purpose.
I think a few piccys might help to clear up any confusion.

 

Hi can someone explain to me why gases would be coming off the laminate flooring? As I don't fit laminate this is something I don't know or have come across.

 

has it been eating vindaloos?

 

Ok I've just found this interesting article.
http://www.healthyflooring.org/alternatives.html

 

I think if you have extreme allergy you should buy a new new floor not a used one that could be contaminated with just about anything?

 

If I were that sensitive to plastics, chemicals ect I'd go with a forbo marmoleum flooring! Is it something like 92% natural?

 

New allergy-friendly floors might cost a bomb.......dust masks, pack of 5, around a fiver.....

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